Besides the fact that the marketing material makes it look like an add for Nerf straight from 1995, Carmack said the prototype “sounds neat” and that eMagin’s microdisplays “have some advantages (120 hz and no two-frame rise), but I never saw a wide FOV HMD.”

Carmack is likely referencing his 2012 work with the displays, saying that the company’s 1920x1200x2 display set were “completely distortion free across the entire view,” and that he also got the dual 1280×1024 eMagin OLEDs running at 120 hz.

Cui later requested a private talk with Carmack so they could speak more candidly on info about the device.

As for the rest of us, the only known information we have was gleaned through a series of tweets where Cui fielded questions from the community. This is what we know about the VR headset so far:

eMagin Prototype VR Headset Specs

2K×2K resolution microdisplays (square shaped)

80 degree horizontal and vertical FOV (~100 diagonal)

‘flip-up’ design

adjustable IPD and diopter settings

electronics integrated into wearable ‘puck’

eMagin primarily produces displays targeting military applications, but also makes a consumer headset, the Z800 3DVisor, an aging SVGA-resolution microdisplay headset (40 degree FOV) still in production since 2005. We’re hoping the new prototype device can refresh eMagin’s consumer offerings, and bring it closer to the low-latency VR we’ve come to expect from Oculus and Valve respectively.

Cui also announced that he would be demoing the prototype (by reservation only) at the SID Expo and at AWE 2015, both in early June. We’ll have our eyes out for reviews, previews, and (hopefully) some better marketing material. Because the garish hype of the 90s is something VR desperately wants to forget.

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Hmm. AS they list 80 degrees in vertical and horizontal FoV, but 100 degrees in diagonal, either the exit pupil is a square with rounded corners or they’re doing like ANTVR and stretch the image optically.

Or have I misunderstood this? I mean, if the exit pupil was a perfect circle, all three FoV values would be the same, right?

Quote: “This is a key award for eMagin as it is expected this work will result in the ability to produce a greatly improved microdisplay solution and therefore increase the use of eMagin’s OLED microdisplays in demanding avionics applications with potential commercial applications as well,” remarked Andrew Sculley, president and chief executive officer of eMagin. “The brightness, resolution and the color gamut will be outstanding and a significant upgrade from what is currently available from any microdisplay producer. eMagin is very pleased to continue this important work with the NVESD and the U.S. Navy.”

Taxpayer money well spent I’d say.

spark

This eMagin earnings call transcript from November 2014 makes for SOME VERY INTERESTING READING with regard to the new eMagin head mounted displays.

I figure if I am interested in something then other people may well be.

As for the information, the best place to start is the obvious places.

That being the official source – the eMagin company website and its public filings.

It is amazing that so many people blog about this subject elsewhere and are unaware of this factual information.

Also amazing is Road To VR being pasted left and right with Oculus stuff and eMagin stuff is being deep-sixed very quickly.

That will surely change.

Scott Hayden

Excellent observation, spark. However the information on the official website is much more recent than this article. When written back in mid-May, we only had some tweets to go on. Once we actually get our hands on the device, we should have a bevy of updated information!

spark

I too, was caught out by the release of the new eMagin visor (the minion) – by a few days.

By then the ‘reddit wars’ were underway, and then I found the detailed information posted above.

I look forward to your reveal.

Note: I am not affiliated with anyone, but I do own a z800. Ten years does go quickly.